Latch issues - feeling despondent

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Dd is 11 days old and really struggles to latch. We are now signed off from midwifery care and haven't heard from the health visitor yet. I had a midwife out 3 times between being discharged from hospital and being discharged from midwifery care, all of them said the same thing, keep trying and pump every 3 hours to keep up supply. She's still not back over her birth weight (which ds was by this point) and isn't great at drinking from a bottle either.

Dh goes back to work on Thursday, ds is 3 and at preschool so pumping every 3 hours isn't exactly practical or possible.

The last midwife who came around said her latch might improve or it might not. Anyone got any success stories about babies who can't latch suddenly becoming awesome at it?

So sorry you’re having problems OP. Has your LO been checked for tongue tie? Do any of the symptoms sound familiar?

If you are in England you used to be able to phone the ward for so many days after Baby was born. If you’ve got the number, I’d give them a call now and tell them you need support with Bfing.

If that’s not an option, have yiu got the Bfing Helpline Numbers?

Please call the association of breastfeeding mothers on 0300 100 0212

The advice that it may not get better or that it might is one of the least helpful things I’ve heard. You can get independent help to improve this and the sooner you reach out the better. It’s very hard, especially with 2 small people to look after.

Thank you for the suggestions. So she doesn't have a tongue tie but she does have a small mouth (as do I according to my dentist who complains about it at every appointment).

Went to a peer support group on Tuesday, they agreed with the midwives that I'm doing everything right and the issue lies with baby.

Spoke to a Lactation Consultant who checked the same list as everyone else and then said skin to skin/keep trying.

Health visitor came around yesterday, checked all the same things as everyone else and said the only thing she could think of was more skin to skin.

Seeing someone from the Hospital's infant feeding team on Monday but given that they went over the same list on the phone, not massively confident that they will have any answers either.

Meanwhile I'm leaking milk everywhere and feeling absolutely rubbish.

Can you get a home visit from a lactation consultant. There is more that can be done to help but you’re going to need qualified hands on support

How far off her birthweight is she? And is she weeing and pooing plenty? If you give her an expressed top up after a feed does she keep it down?